Did Arran 3yrs ago. Stayed at the golf club in Lochranza (think it's spelt right). Fantastic. Parked by first tee, next morning woke up with motorhome surrounded by a herd of red deer. The owner came and moved them off, where they wandered down to the 7th tee & disappeared into the forest. The island is wonderful. Viking longboat, museums, Arran clothing, especially good is the fishing. Enjoy

Sounds fun ...might i be cheeky and ask what sort of prices your ferries are costing?

Being a Scotland dweller im always put of by the ridonkulous prices calmac charge for crossings I've done mull, bute, and skye but have yet to do more due to the costs .....last time I got a quote for Shetland it was around £400

We have heard these islands have very peaty and or smoky whisky, not Bev's choice, I don't even drink the stuff, looking for non peaty options, any advice?

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Bunnahabhain is not really peaty, avoid Lagavulin and particularly Laphroigh, an acquired taste like blue cheese ? However after the third or fourth dram who cares !! enjoy. The islands will have their party frock on with this good weather, park up near the sea, Midgie attack from just one side, you may win, only may !!

Sounds fun ...might i be cheeky and ask what sort of prices your ferries are costing?

Being a Scotland dweller im always put of by the ridonkulous prices calmac charge for crossings I've done mull, bute, and skye but have yet to do more due to the costs .....last time I got a quote for Shetland it was around £400

Eire appeals to me too but can get to spain cheaper lol

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The prices are not cheap, I read somewhere they were allegedly pegged to be equal to cost of fuel for an equivalent mileage on land, I really can not see that

I think most of our crossings are CalMac, crossing timings and costs in link below

our first crossing is to Dunoon, with Western Ferries, cross every half hour from 6am to about midnight, no idea why they have so many crossings, really not expecting that much traffic (might be another mistake) that crossing is about £32 one way

then we are going get across to the Kintyre peninsular down to Inverary for the ferry to Islay, Inverary looks lovely we have used google earth and street view to look at a lot of the route from Dunoon, looks really nice. Inverary though we could not find a car park (on google earth) that allowed motorhomes, emailed the tourist office there and they have said there is dedicated parking for shopping not camping

Ferry on to Islay return for 8m MH 2 adults early August is £122!!

It is a lot of money and yes I know I can get through the Chunnel for about the same, but 1000's will be in France, a few dozen on Islay

You'll find most of the car parks and lay by will still have signs saying no overnight camping etc but it's unenforceable in Scotland so if you leave no mess and don't create a nuisance you'll find it very unlikely to be moved on.

You will usually always find other vans camped in them too

I've not stayed in a campsite in Scotland in over 6 years.

Someone will be along in a minute to disagree with me no doubt ........but I've never once been moved on or had any negative encounters wild camping in Scotland and I've lived here all my life

Hello David. We did more or less the same trip in April of last year - it was just fab!! We spent a night next to a picnic spot near to Carradale, on the east side of the Kintyre peninsular (its a narrower road than the one on the west, but just beautiful).
Yes, the ferry from Islay to Jura is small and we grounded our towbar as we got off but no damage done (there were plenty of scrape marks on the tarmac!). We stopped on a huge beach on Jura, about a mile after the distillery - one of the locals told us that there was absolutely no issue with parking up there and that in summer there were usually a couple of motorhomes there. (I've added a couple of photos of the spot - it's quite near the remains of the old quay and there's an info board with a poem about leaving Jura).
On Islay we wild camped in a parking spot on the Oa reserve, near to the American war memorial. That's worth a visit in its own right but even better was watching an eagle quartering the hillside at dusk.
Have a good one!!

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Hello David. We did more or less the same trip in April of last year - it was just fab!! We spent a night next to a picnic spot near to Carradale, on the east side of the Kintyre peninsular (its a narrower road than the one on the west, but just beautiful).
Yes, the ferry from Islay to Jura is small and we grounded our towbar as we got off but no damage done (there were plenty of scrape marks on the tarmac!). We stopped on a huge beach on Jura, about a mile after the distillery - one of the locals told us that there was absolutely no issue with parking up there and that in summer there were usually a couple of motorhomes there. (I've added a couple of photos of the spot - it's quite near the remains of the old quay and there's an info board with a poem about leaving Jura).
On Islay we wild camped in a parking spot on the Oa reserve, near to the American war memorial. That's worth a visit in its own right but even better was watching an eagle quartering the hillside at dusk.
Have a good one!!

Sounds fun ...might i be cheeky and ask what sort of prices your ferries are costing?

Being a Scotland dweller im always put of by the ridonkulous prices calmac charge for crossings I've done mull, bute, and skye but have yet to do more due to the costs .....last time I got a quote for Shetland it was around £400

Eire appeals to me too but can get to spain cheaper lol

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Tambo......... The Orkney and Shetland Ferries are a different kettle of fish.
Caledonian McBrayne give subsidised tickets to tourists visiting the western isles.
The Island Hopper Scheme makes a lot of sense I'll try and get a link for priceshttp://www.calmac.co.uk/timetables/

DavidG58 If you havn't travelled up the Loch Lomond Road to Inverary, it is much nicer than travelling from Dunoon
You would cross the Erskine Bridge (not toll anymore) head for Loch Lomond drive to Arochar around Loch Long up The Rest and be Thankful, to you get to Loch Fine, heading to Inverary.
The ferry to Islay isn't from Inverary, it's further south at Kenacraig.

On your way (both routes) you will pass Loch Fine Oysters a seafood restaurant. (reasuringly expensive) If you use the restaurant you can camp in their grounds.

What ever you decide, if the sun shines, Scotland and the Islands are beautiful. Hope the weather stays fine.